Puzzles & Riddles

Brain Teasers

The fear of risk is similar to the fear of embarrassment. Good ideas are sometimes not explored because the perceived risk is too great. Before you disqualify an idea or solution for being too risky, take a moment to quantify the risks involved. Ask yourself "what is the worst thing that could happen?" If the answer is that you might be embarrassed, then perhaps the risk is worth it. Often, it is the risky ideas that have the highest reward when they are successful.
Naturally, you shouldn't always take risky options when other equally good (and less risky) options exist. A careful analysis of the risks and rewards involved with each solution will help you determine which one to pursue. […]

scur-ri-lous
adj :: Using or given to coarse language.
"Those who sat in the world's upper gallery treated that incident, I am well convinced, with their usual vociferation; and every term of scurrilous reproach was most probably vented on that occasion." -- Fielding, Henry […]

The average adult human brain weighs 1.3kg (2.8lb). That's twice the weight of a giraffe's brain and three times the weight of a cow's brain. A newborn human baby has a brain that weighs about 350 grams (.8lb), which happens to be the same size as an orangutan's brain.
The size of the brain has very little to do with how smart the animal is. For example, an elephant has a 6kg (13lb) brain, but everyone knows that an elephant is not 5 times smarter than a human. The large size of the elephant's brain is probably how it got a reputation for having such a good memory. […]

Logic Riddles

As it often happens in life evil warlock imprisoned a wise man. Surprisingly he gave him a chance to save himself if he fulfils one task.
There is a round tray on the table which can be turned around freely. There are four coins on the tray placed as corners of a square.
Wiseman has his eyes covered so he doesn’t see anything. His task is to turn the coins so that they are all heads up.
He is not in easy situation. He may turn some coins and than the warlock will turn the tray around. He turns some coins again warlock turns the tray again. It goes on until all coins are turned correctly. At that moment evil warlock ends the game.
Wiseman can’t recognize one side from the other by touching it. He has to leave the coins where they were in the corners of a square. And mainly – because of the evil magic – he has the worst luck so if he relies just on chance he will never fulfill the task. […]

Prison guards are bored so during dinner they announce the prisoners that they will play a game:
In the morning they will stand in a line so that every prisoner will see all standing in front of him but no one behind him. Guards will randomly paint red or white stripe on their back.
They will ask prisoners one by one from the last to the first. They will be allowed to say just one word “red” or “white”. If the prisoner says the color he has on his back he may go home in opposite case he will be executed without delay.
The prisoners are in one cell during the night and they can discuss the tactics.
Which is the best? How many will survive? […]

There are three Chinese guys sleeping in a hotel room. Someone paints their faces with black color during the night. When they wake up in the morning they look at each other and all start laughing.
If one of them realizes he is black too he stops laughing. Because they are all smart and they know it about each other one of them will realize it soon. How did he find out?
Just realize that if two friends are dirty it means that I am too. If I see two laughing dirty guys it doesn’t mean that I’m dirty too they might be laughing at each other and I might be clean. Chinese didn’t point or say anything. […]

You are sentenced at court.
Judge is a fair guy so he offers you following:
“You can say one sentence to defend yourself. If you lie we will hang you. If you tell us the truth we will shoot you.”
What will you say? […]

Man comes home and what does he see? Mother-in-law came over.
I don’t know how but they started a fight. About what is not important at all.
...
Mother-in-law: You just lie all the time.
Man: No way...
Mother-in-law: You don’t tell a sentence without lying!
Man: Don’t be ridiculous!
Mother-in-law: Let’s try it: tell me one true sentence.
Man: Ok but you will get out after.
Mother-in-law: If you tell me true sentence I’ll go but if you will lie again I will stay. I promise I will!
Man thought for a while and than told her one sentence. Mother-in-law suddenly realized that to keep her promise she has to hang herself.
What did the man tell her? […]

I move faster in certain solids, but slower in certain gases. I am typically broken by objects with large masses. I can be used as for pleasure, practice, and even an alarm. If used excessively, I can cause harm. What am I? […]